Greater Rochester Enterprise will be looking for a new leader. The local business development organization announced Thursday that President and CEO Mark Peterson is leaving for a job in Illinois.

Peterson will become the new president and CEO of Intersect Illinois, which is a business recruitment and marketing organization for the State of Illinois.

Peterson has been with GRE for 12 years, 8 years as its leader.

In terms of what he's leaving behind, Peterson feels the Rochester region is on firm footing as it works to improve its economy.

“I think we really have a great strategic plan now, I think we know very much what the industry sectors are that we need to grow in; I think we put a great team in place; I think the level of collaboration in the community has never been stronger and is continuing to grow. So I think a lot of what I came to accomplish at the Greater Rochester Enterprise we have accomplished," Peterson told WXXI News.

Matt Hurlbutt, who is GRE’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, will step into the job in an interim role. Hurlbutt has been helping lead GRE’s business development team for the past eight years.

Hurlbutt expects a smooth transition.

“We're a very close knit team and we are eager to build on the moment that we have had to date and certainly Mark and I worked very closely together so I'm looking forward to picking up the ball and building on the progress that we've made already in the region," Hurlbutt told us.

Peterson will be with GRE into early June.

Matt Hurlbutt, who is GRE’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, will step into the job in an interim role.

GRE Board Chair Anne Kress said that Hurlbutt has been effectively leading GRE’s business development team for the past eight years. He is well-suited to serve as GRE’s interim president & CEO while we assess the best strategy for the organization’s long-term growth.”